And frank leseure



(No Model.)

B. F. ALVEY 8v F. LBSEURE.

WHIFFLETREE GOUPLING.

No. 393,347. Patented Nov. Z7, 1888.

. INVBNTOP.:

ATTORNEYS WITNESSBS:

` UNrTED STATES PATENT ltrice..

BENDICT F. ALVEY, OF ST. MARYS, INDIANA, AND FRANK LESEURE, OF MARSHALL, ILLINOIS.

WHIFFLETREECOUPLlNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,347, dated November 27, 1888.

Application filed April 4, 1888.

To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that we, BENEDIGT F. ALVEY, of St. Marys, Vigo county, Indiana, and FRANK LEsEURE, of Marshall, in the county of Clark and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved WhiftletreeCoupling, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to whiffletree-couplings, and has for its object to provide a sirnple, inexpensive, neat, and substantial device of this character for coupling whiftletrees to doubletrees in a manner allowing free horizontal play of both trees without rocking motion of either tree and without strain on the pivotbolt which connects the trees, thereby promoting the durabilit-y of the coupling of the trees with each other and of the doubletree with the draft-tongue of a vehicle.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction of the coupling, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan View of parts of a whfrletree and doubletree connected by our improved coupling. Fig. 2 is a front View thereof. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the end of the doubletree and its connected rnetal plate, which forms a part of the coupling. Fig. 5 is an under side view of the main or yoke part of the coupling, and Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section of the coupled single and double trees and taken on the line fr .fr fc in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawA ings.

The main part, A,of the coupling is made with a base-plate, a, on which the whifiietree B rests, and with front and rear lips or iianges, a a', which project upward from the ends of the base-plate and lap onto the front and rear faces of the whiftletree. The part A also is provided with a yoke or stirrup, g2, through which the adjacent end of the doubletree C is passed. To the top of the doubletree which faces the under side of the whiftletree is fixed, preferably by six screws, d, a metal plate, D, which is provided with a central boss, l,hav`

Serial No. 269,563. (No model.)

ing an aperture, @which passes clear through the plate to receive the coupling-bolt E, and provided outside of this boss with an annular groove or recess, d3, which receives a corresponding annular flange or collar, ce, formed on the under side of the plate a of the part A of the coupling, said base-plate having also a central aperture, ci, which receives the boss d of the doul letreeplate D. Between the end or crossbar of the stirrup a2 and the lower face of the doubletree() is placed a metal plate, F, which has a central aperture, f, through which the bolt E passes, and is preferably convexed lengthwise at its lower face next the stirrup and is fixed to the doubletree by a couple' of screws, f. The bolt E is passed downward through the whiffletree, the aperture cl2 of the plate D, the doubletree C, the plate F, and through a hole at the center of the cross-bar of the stirrup a2 of part A, and outside of the stirrup receives a nut, e, which when tightened sufficiently holds all parts of the coupling in place to connect thc whifdetree to the doubletree in a simple and substantial manner, and allows the whiffletree to turn horizontally either way on the boss d of the doubletreeplate D and the bolt E, as centers of motion, to accommodate the uneven draft of the team or while turning a vehicle drawn by the team.

In assembling the parts to effect the coupling of the whi'liletree to the doubletree, the plate D will be fixed to the doubletree,and the part A of the coupling will then be slipped over the doubletree and its plate D until the annular fiange a3 on the part A enters the annular groove d3 of the plate D. The plate or key F will then be slipped in between the end bar of the stirrup a2 and the doubletree, and will be fastened to the doubletree to hold the parts A D G together, whereupon the whiffletree B will belaid in between the flanges or lips a a of the part A, and the bolt E will then be passed through the parts B a D C F and the stirrup @Zand the nut e will be applied to the bolt, and the coupling is complete.

It is obvious that by means of the flanges a on the main casting or metal part A of the coupling and the interlocking of the parts a3 d3 of the parts A D, together with the lower IOO i t N connection or joint ol' the stil-rap ai, with the pivot-bolt E, will not only relieve this bolt of all the draft-strain brought /upon the whililetree, but will also distribute the strain on the whifletrce to the doubletree in a manner to cause a square draft-strain on both the trees, and prevent either or both of them from turning over forward edgewise, causing undue strain on the coupling of the two trees or the connection of the doubletree with the tongue of a vehicle, and at the same time the parts of the coupling will be held snugly, so that rattling of it will be prevented; and the wear of the parts may be taken up at any time by tightening the n nte upon or beneath the coupling-stirrup ai. This construction allows a very light pivot-bolt to be used, which will not materially weaken the whifiletree or doubletree by its passage through them, and, inally, the stirr-up a is so niuch wider at its inside opening than the doubletree that it allows free relative horizontal turning of the trees-onc on the other-and facilitates repairs, as the doubletree need not be fitted to the interior of the stirrup, as in other coup lings of this general character.

Having thus fully described our invention, We elaini as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, in a whiiiletree-conpling, of a main part or casting, A, formed with a plate, n, having flanges a a', and adapted to three faces of the whilletree B, a stirrup, a2, inelosing the doubletree, a plate, D, fixed to the doubletree and having a later ally interlocking connection with the plate a of part A, a key-plate, F, held between the stirrup and doubletree,and a pivotbolt passed through the parts B A D C F and stirrup a, and receiving a nut or retaining device at the stirrup, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, in a whillletree-coupling, of a main part or casting, A, formed with a plate, a, having flanges a a', and fitting three faces of the whiflletree, and provided also with a stirrup, a, inclosing the doubletree, said plate a having an annular flange, a, at itsnnder side, a plate, D, lheld to the doubletree and provided with a boss, d', entering a hole, a4, in the plate a, and an annular recess, d3,rc ceiving the flange a on plate a, a keyplate,F, held between the doubletree and stirrup a2, and a pivot bolt or pin, E, passed through the parts B A D C F, and a nut, e, on the bolt below the stirrup aIl of part A, all constructed and arranged for operation substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

3. In a Whifiletreecoupling, the main part or casting A thereof, formed with a plate, a,and llaugesaa,adaptcd to three faces ofthe whifiletree, and a stirrup, c2, adapted to iuclose the doubletree, and said plate having a central aperture and an annular tongue adapting it to interlock laterally with a plate on the doubletree, substantially as herein set forth.

BENEDICT F. ALVEY. FRANK LESEURF.

VWitnesses:

D. W. MUNIELL, J'. E. MCCARTY. 

